Groundwater and Contaminated Land Technical Officer - 19658

Groundwater supplies the majority of drinking water in Kent and South London, is vital for springs, rivers and wetlands across the area and is essential for industrial and agricultural uses. We need a team member to play a supporting role in protecting our vulnerable groundwater resource. You’ll be a part of a busy team delivering technical advice, regulation and guidance on hydrogeological and land contamination matters.

Work will include planning consultations and provision of advice and regulation on remediation at contaminated sites across the South East where development is fast paced and high profile. Additionally, your knowledge will support environmental permits across a wide range of areas including water and sewage discharges, landfills and waste sites. Your role will protect and improve groundwater quality by helping to implement strategies for our most sensitive groundwater areas. We work closely with members of the public, business, agriculture, water companies and industry to achieve this.

You'll also respond to customer enquiries and information requests, and work closely with partner agencies and local authorities. The team assist The Environment Agency’s response to pollution and flooding incidents, and you will have the opportunity to train in an incident role.

The Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team regulate and protect the heavily utilised groundwater resource in the Kent and South London, whilst also implementing strategies to improve groundwater quality.

You'll join a team specialising in land contamination, landfill engineering, groundwater protection, and hydrogeology. Our technical advice is indispensable to other Environment Agency teams and external partners such as water companies and Local Authorities when making decisions regarding building and infrastructure developments, incident management, and permitting.

• You must be qualified to degree level in a relevant discipline such as geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry or land quality.
• Relevant experience in site investigation data/remediation verification reports/groundwater risk assessments and/or a post graduate qualification will be an advantage.
• You'll be a good communicator with time management/data management/interpersonal skills, who can present verbal/written arguments to a wide range of audiences, with the ability to simplify technical detail.
• You’ll be able to produce and interpret data to develop evidence and solve technical issues.
• You should be able to work well as part of a team and across different departments, but also work independently with responsibility for a patch within Kent and South London.
• You’ll have good computer skills with the ability to use GIS, MS Office, Outlook, and MS Teams.
• We will support you to work towards Chartered status.
• Full UK Driving Licence required.

The team is based in our area office Orchard House, Addington (near West Malling Kent) although flexible office/home working patterns are acceptable. We are currently predominately working from home, with a gradual return to the office.

Training on Environment Agency systems will be included as part of the role, and IT equipment provided.

We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including part-time working, job shares, compressed hours and term time working contracts, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

Interviews will be held mid/end November 2021..

For further details please contact Emma Duckett at emma.duckett@environment-agency.gov.uk or Priya Sharma at Priya.sharma@environment-agency.gov.uk

Please provide an example of a time you used your knowledge and understanding of a particular customer to improve the service you provided for them.

Your example needs to demonstrate the competency set out below (the answer you provide will be assessed as part of your application):

Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.

Please provide an example of a time you delivered a successful piece of work in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles.

Your example needs to demonstrate the competency set out below (the answer you provide will be assessed as part of your application):

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Please provide an example of a time you were responsible for analysing and interpreting data and presenting it in a useable format and communicating clearly.

Your example needs to demonstrate the competency set out below (the answer you provide will be assessed as part of your application):

Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Please provide an example of where you have considered and managed Health and safety risks of your own and others.

Your example needs to demonstrate the competency set out below (the answer you provide will be assessed as part of your application):

Making sure your own behaviour reduces risks to the health and safety of yourself and others.

Full UK driving Lincense